Larissa, raven brows lowered, shot her a look that by rights should have pushed her into the river. Only the sight of the bearded warlock, jogging down the path, stopped her rebuttal.“There he is, the little scamp,” she said.
“Sorry—ah, merry meet.” Breathing heavily, he forced a smile. Becca, Clara could see, was eying him carefully as the coven gathered and joined hands.
So was Larissa, who scowled as his hand went up reflexively to his open collar.“You’re not wearing your amulet,” she said, forgoing the usual greeting.
“No.” His long fingers played over the dark curls as if feeling for the missing piece. “I—the chain broke, and I have to get it fixed.”
“Ah.” Larissa sniffed, and for a moment Clara wondered if she could smell the blood that Harriet’s claws had drawn. “You should be careful with a piece like that.” The smile was back, only a slight rebuke in her voice. “It has power, you know.”
“I know.” His smile wasn’t quite as wide as usual, but before Clara could approach and attempt to sniff out anything about the man, Ande and Marcia had joined hands. For a moment, Becca seemed about to address them—the question in her eyes—but instead she turned toward Trent, and Clara had the distinct impression that she was going to apologize, yet again, for Harriet’s indiscretion. Only then Kathy reached for her hand and drew Becca in, linking her to Larissa and the others. Trent completed the circle, joining Becca and Ande, and Larissa began to speak.
“We are here today to celebrate our sister, Suzanne.” She looked around, her gaze taking in each of them in turn. “To remember her magic, and to return her to the stars.”
“Oh, brother.” Kathy’s whisper was audible to all.
“She was our sister in the mysteries we share.” Even as she kept talking, Larissa silenced the coven pet with a glare. “Mysteries that evoke the mysterious secrets we all share.” Becca, conscious of her status as the newest member of the group and suddenly very conscious of Larissa’s eagle eyes, held stock still as the older woman droned on. Beside her, Kathy struggled to contain her giggle.
“And as we watch the sun descend, so too we bid farewell to this stage of our sister’s being.” With the last of the light, Larissa seemed finally to be winding up. “Farewell, Suzanne,” she intoned in a voice that must have carried to the water’s edge and beyond. “Farewell!”
“Thank the goddess.” Ande’s exhalation was audible, even if its meaning was open to interpretation. And as Larissa turned toward her, she girded for the rebuke. “I mean, goddess be praised,” the other woman said.
“Goddess be praised.” Becca echoed the sentiment as the circle broke its bonds.
“What was that about?” Marcia sidled up to Becca as Trent wrestled with the bottle of cider Larissa had brought, her attention on the flamboyant pair. “I thought this was supposed to be focused on Suzanne.”
Becca couldn’t bring herself to disagree. “I’m beginning to realize I never really knew her.”
Marcia’s large, dark eyes peered up at her as she once more donned her cap.
“She wanted to talk to me about something,” Becca explained. “That last meeting. I never found out what it was.”
“Oh, I know.” A surprising smile. “She wanted to do a casting out.”
Becca’s jaw dropped in confusion.
“Because of your summoning spell. You know,” Marcia explained. “She was hoping you could help her.”
“In her personal life?” Becca couldn’t help thinking of Jeff. Casting out spells were to rid oneself of negative influences—or people.
“You mean, like she had mice in her apartment?” Marcia was in an exceedingly jolly mood despite the occasion.
It was contagious, and Becca found herself chuckling at the idea.“If that were the case, she wouldn’t need a witch. She could have borrowed my cats.” That was so close to an oxymoron that Clara’s tail twitched.
“No, I don’t think so.” Marcia leaned in again, her voice growing soft. “I think she was talking about the coven. Something—or someone—who wasn’t, well, right.”
“Trent!” Larissa’s shrill command cut through the growing dark, and Marcia rolled her eyes.
“I can think of a couple of candidates,” she whispered.
“A couple?” As soon as the words were out, Becca regretted them. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“No, it’s fine.” Marcia dismissed her slight cattiness. “I wasn’t just thinking of our queen bee. I mean, look at Trent. Doesn’t he seem to think he’s our end-all and be-all?” Becca didn’t get a chance to respond. “Really, what does he contribute?”
Clara watched as her person mulled over the possibilities.“He does have a certain charm,” she murmured, earning another dramatic roll of Marcia’s large, dark eyes. “I mean, who else?”
Even as she voiced the question, the answer hit her. Larissa might be overbearing and Trent a flirt. But it was Ande who had first told her about the coven’s financial irregularities and that Suzanne had been concerned. Becca wanted to trust her coven mate’s grudging promise that she would talk to the police. That didn’t mean she couldn’t check up on the alibi she’d given her.
“Marcia, Ande said she was with you last Saturday, when—” Becca broke off, unable to finish.
“Yeah.” The other woman sounded thoughtful, but a trace of a smile lit her face.
Becca paused, taken aback, and then forced herself to go on.“Was Luz with you too?” She winced as she asked the corroborative question, but in the fading light her pained expression was invisible to all but her cat.
“Well, yeah.” Marcia chortled. “You can ask her.”
“Ask Luz?” Becca turned, confused, only to see Ande approaching.
“I don’t think that was canon.” The taller witch joined them, in the guise of handing out the paper cups.
“It most certainly wasn’t,” agreed Marcia. “We were supposed to do a regular circle, invoking the elements, and then toast Suzanne after.”
“Hey, guys.” Kathy approached, jug of cider in hand.
As she filled their cups, Becca took the opportunity to ask,“Did you think that was odd?”
“What, that?” Kathy turned to look at Larissa, who seemed to be deep in discussion with Trent. “Someone likes to be center stage is all.”
“Maybe.” Ande and Marcia exchanged looks.
“That’s right.” Becca nodded. “Weren’t you saying there was something off—”
“Ande!” Larissa called. “Do you have those cups?”
“Don’t mind her.” Kathy took Becca’s arm, turning her away. “She’s a bit—I don’t know—she gets paranoid.”
“Larissa?” Becca gently detached herself from the younger woman’s grasp.
“No, Ande.” Even as Kathy lowered her voice, she gave the name her usual dramatic emphasis. “She can be a little obsessive.” Her voice sank to be quieter still. “I heard what she was saying, but I’m not sure I would believe it. I mean, accusing someone of embezzling? In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the police were looking at her, you know.”
Becca only paused a moment before responding.“No, she and Marcia were together that afternoon.”
The redhead’s eyebrows registered her surprise. “Really? Was Luz there too?”
“I…I think so, but I’m not sure.” Becca looked around as if searching for more confirmation, but Kathy was already reaching for her arm once more.
“Come on.” She led her away so quickly that Clara had to scurry to avoid being kicked. “Let’s get some of those cookies before they’re all gone.” She had a point. Marcia was already on her third. A gingerbread spice mix, Clara could tell, as she raised her black leather nose to the air.And even though Trent appeared more interested in the cider, Larissa was pushing a paper plate of the cookies toward him as the other women arrived.
“May I?” Kathy reached over to nab one. “Thanks.”
Becca, Clara observed, had hung back once Kathy had released her arm, and now sidled over to Trent.